dailygamecock.com MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2010
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
VOL. 103, NO. 136 ● SINCE 1908
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Cramming & Crashing
Monday 79°
54°
Tuesday 73°
49°
Wednesday 77°
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Photo illustration by Scott Fowler
Students pull out all studying stops for end-of-semester assignments Sara Hartley and Taylor Cheney STAFF WRITERS
2009 Soccer Preview The Gamecocks pulled off a series win against Georgia this weekend, despite the rainy weather in Athens.
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With the close of spring semester approaching, students are gearing up for a week of finals and intense studying. W hile many resort to all-nighters and caffeine in their efforts to cram, others take a more extreme route, using stimulants like Adderall. One anonymous fourth-year student started feeling the end-of-semester pressure last week when she had a 20-page paper, a test and three sma l ler paper s due bet ween Monday a nd Wednesday. “I basically didn’t sleep for three days straight,” she said. In order to focus and get all of her work done, the student picked up three time-released Adderall capsules from a friend. She said when she takes it she can concentrate better and get more accomplished. “ It ’s s o me t h i n g I o n l y d o i n e x t r e me situations,” she said. “I try not to take it.” She’s not alone, according to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health. In an April
Summer Movie Preview
Student Pulse
An array of expensive sequels and action films will keep people visiting theaters this summer, with “Toy Story 3” and “Iron Man 2” likely battling for top box office gross.
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Seidel Says Braggers who constantly feel the need to one-up their peers end Chelsey up making Seidel fools of Second-year themselves. print journalism student
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Mix
Softball series recap Although rain disrupted the weekend’s schedule, USC’s softball team saw another series sweep at the hands of the No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs.
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study. Court ney Robinson, a f irst-year exercise science student , recently changed majors and said she is feeling the pressure of catching up. She has four exams coming up and is trying not to wait until the last minute to study. “I’m trying to knock some of it out now so it won’t all pile up later,” Robinson said. “I have one day before all of my exams to study because all four of them are compacted into three days.” Robinson said she might use energy drinks such as Red Bull, but limits the amount of caffeine she intakes. “It’s defi nitely not good for your body, but it helps keep me awake and alert,” she said. Taylor Jones, a first-year mathematics and Spanish student , said getting at least eight hours of sleep and eating a good breakfast gives him the boost he needs before an exam. “Cramming doesn’t really help me,” he said. Jones said he would not use Adderall. “I would be worried about how it would affect me since a doctor has never told me to use it,” Jones said. Jones has five exams coming up this week, but he said does not feel the need to use stimulants to achieve the grade he desires. Comments on this story? E-mail sagcknew@mailbox.sc.edu
What gets you through the endof-semester assignment rush?
Lyndsee Burleson
Brittany Entzminger
Colin Campsie
Hayden Fennell
Meera Mehta
Fourth-year psychology student
Third-year criminal justice student
Third-year psychology student
Third-year mechanical engineering student
Fourth-year chemistry student
“I don’t really drink a lot of caffeinated things but I like to take a break often. I think it’s good to have a buddy to help stay on track.”
“I do the all-nighters. I actually sleep during the day then stay up all night.”
“When I start to get into work mode, I just commit an entire day to getting stuff done.”
“Sheer will power. I don’t really do much, I just bite the bullet.”
“I take st udy break s. I ju st go on t he I nter net , Facebook, then go back to studying.”
Columbians celebrate community City’s first appreciation day draws all ages, donations for homeless Derek Legette
(803) 777-3914 (803) 777-7726 (803) 777-7182 (803) 576-6172
report, full-time college students between the ages of 18 and 22 were found twice as likely to use Adderall non-medically as those of the same age who were not in college full-time. The drug is used to treat narcolepsy and attention-defict hyperactivity disorder, but some students take the drug illegally to focus on their work. “Tons of people ask for it,” the source said. “It helps them concentrate and have energy.” An anonymous first-year student has taken the medication for fi ve years to treat ADHD. He said he only uses the drug to assist with schoolwork and that caffeine is also helpful. “Adderall is the s---, and Folgers coffee is my jam,” he said. “I’m incapable of long-term work without it.” Without a prescription, it is illegal to take Addera l l. Some side ef fec t s a re fa i nt i ng, restlessness and headaches due to increased blood pressure. The fourth-year student said she was able to get her work done while on the drug, but she did experience some of the negative side effects. “I felt really unhealthy,” she said. “I’m going to try not to take it this week.” Non-prescription Adderall use is controversial among students, as some are against the practice, opting instead for more traditional ways to
“If we worked toget her more often, our lives could be improved,” Fertitta said. In between performances, Ivey Kaiser, a fourth-year geography student , gave a brief speech about how everyone should explore the
positive aspects of Columbia. “Columbia is a pretty chill place to be, and I have been living here since I’ve been born,” Kaiser said. “We should enjoy the positives in our life and make the best out of every situation that you’re in.”
Dav id Sabio, a f if t h-year geography student , organized the festival last fall. “My buddies and I wanted to give clothes to others, and we wanted Columbia ● 4
STAFF WRITER
C olu mbia A pprec iat ion Day made its debut at the Statehouse Saturday, and people of all ages came together to donate clothes for the homeless and enjoy Columbia’s community. The ma i n event s were ba nds performing on the Statehouse steps. A tent on the side of the steps held 10 boxes where people could donate clothes to Columbia’s homeless. Everyone also took part in the day’s activities, including painting, hu l a-ho opi n g, j u mp rop e a nd Frisbee. Ian Flegas, a fourth-year media arts student and a member of the band Pan, said he was excited to perform. “I think it’s pretty cool, and this is good for the community,” Flegas said. “We need to do more of this.” Other bands performing were The Dubber, Communit y Drum Circle, Zutani Commission, Paddy Dover and No Shoes Sally. Cara Fer t it t a , a fou r t h-year biolog y student and member of No Shoes Sally, said the event was absolutely wonderful.
Alayna Dunkerly / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
Music highlights the first Columbia Appreciation Day, in which residents gathered to celebrate and donate to homeless.